[NukeNet] Nuke Loan Guarantees, Round 2: Let's stop them for good

[Michael Mariotte]

ROUND 2 OF NUCLEAR LOAN GUARANTEE BATTLE ABOUT TO BEGIN

 

LET'S STOP THEM ENTIRELY THIS TIME!

 

As you know, in December Congress voted to authorize $18.5 Billion in taxpayer-backed loan guarantees for the construction of new atomic reactors (along with $2 billion for a uranium enrichment plan, $8 billion for various coal technologies and $10 billion for renewables and efficiency projects). The Congressional authorization is only good through Fiscal Year 2009.

 

It has become clear that the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot give out any loan guarantees by the end of FY 2009, so DOE is now pushing to extend its authority to issue loan guarantees through FY 2011-or well into the next administration.

 

In order for this to happen the Appropriations Committees of both the Senate and House will need to vote on the issue later this year.  The Appropriation subcommittees on Energy and Water in both houses are already discussing this issue.

 

This year, we need to start early and stop this program entirely. It was only with your help and action that most members of Congress even knew there was a DOE loan guarantee program! And your actions prevented the industry from receiving the $50 Billion in guarantees it wanted. Now that the program has received substantial attention, we need to keep the pressure on and end it entirely. 

 

Tell the members of the Energy and Water subcommittees that you do not support nuclear power as a solution to global warming!        

 

Take action today. If your Senator or Representative is on the attached list, please call him/her now and demand that the authorization period for nuclear loan guarantees not be extended. These are the critical subcommittee members who will make the first decisions. And if your Senator or Representative isn't on the list below, call your own officials anyway. The bigger stir we can make, the more likely we will win.

 

Talking Points:

 

It has become clear over the past year that most Congressmembers do not understand the nuclear power issue, and too often simply believes what the nuclear industry tells them. We need to conduct basic education of Congress. While NIRS will be helping set up briefings on various issues for them over the next several months, it is vital that Congressmembers hear from their constituents as well.

 

When calling your Congressional offices, ask for the legislative staffer for energy issues. Then try some of these talking points to explain your opposition to taxpayer loan guarantees.

 

*The climate crisis requires that we use the fastest, cheapest, safest, cleanest methods of generating electricity possible. Nuclear power fails in comparison to renewables and energy efficiency on all these criteria.

 

*We can achieve a carbon-free, nuclear-free energy future, which will benefit everyone, but we need to start moving in that direction now. You can refer staffers to www.ieer.org <http://www.ieer.org/>  for more information about how we can attain that necessary future.

 

*Nuclear power is already the most subsidized form of electricity generation; the wealthy nuclear industry doesn't deserve more subsidies.

 

*Environmentalists and consumers/ratepayers do not support nuclear power. You can refer your Congressmembers to the statement on the front page of NIRS website (www.nirs.org <http://www.nirs.org/> ) signed so far by 425 U.S. organizations and more than 150 international organizations.

 

General Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

 

Contact Info for Energy and Water subcommittee members:

 




House of Representatives

 

Democratic Subcommittee Members:

 

Chair: Peter J. Visclosky (IN)

Phone: (202) 225-2461

 

Chet Edwards (TX)

Phone: (202) 225-6105

 

Ed Pastor (AZ)

Phone: (202) 225-4065

 

Marion Berry (AR)

Phone: (202) 225-4076

 

Chaka Fattah (PA)

Phone: (202) 225-4001

 

Steve Israel (NY)

Phone: (202) 225-3335

 

Tim Ryan (OH)

Phone: (202) 225-5261

 

José E. Serrano (NY)

Phone: (202) 225-4361

 

 

John W. Olver (MA)

Phone: (202) 225-5335

 

Dave Obey (WI), Ex Officio

Phone: (202) 225-3365

 

Republican Subcommittee Members:

 

Ranking Member: David L. Hobson (OH)

Phone: (202) 225-4324

 

Zach Wamp (TN)

Phone: (202) 225-3271

 

Jo Ann Emerson (MO)

Phone: (202) 225-4404

 

Michael K. Simpson (ID)

Phone: (202) 225-5531

 

Dennis R. Rehberg (MT)

Phone: (202) 225-3211

 

Ken Calvert (CA)

Phone: (202) 225-1986

 

Jerry Lewis (CA), Ex Officio

Phone: (202) 225-5861

 

Senate

 

Democratic Subcommittee Members:

 

Chair: Byron Dorgan (ND)

Phone:  (202) 224-2551

 

Robert C. Byrd (WV)

Phone: (202) 224-3954

 

Patty Murray (WA)

Phone: (202) 224-2621

 

Dianne Feinstein (CA)

Phone: (202) 224-3841

 

Tim Johnson (SD)

Phone: (202) 224-5842

 

Mary Landrieu (LA)

Phone: (202) 224-5824

 

Daniel Inouye (HA)

Phone: (202) 224-3934

 

Jack Reed (RI)

Phone: (202) 224-4642

 

Frank Lautenberg (NJ)

Phone: (202) 224-3224

 

Republican Subcommittee Members:

 

 

Ranking Member: Pete Domenici (NM)

Phone: (202) 224-6621

 

Thad Cochran (MS)

Phone: (202) 224-5054

 

Mitch McConnell (KY)

Phone: (202) 224-2541

 

Robert Bennett (UT)

Phone: (202) 224-5444

 

Larry Craig (ID)

Phone: (202) 224-2752

 

Christopher Bond (MO)

Phone: (202) 224-5721

 

Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)

Phone: (202) 224-5922

 

Wayne Allard (CO)

Phone: (202) 224-5941

 




 

 

Thanks for all you do!

 

Michael Mariotte, nirsnet at nirs.org 

Aja Binette, ajab at nirs.org 

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

www.nirs.org <http://www.nirs.org/> 

 

This is NIRS' 30th anniversary year: we've been here for you for 30 years now; help us kick off our next 30 years, and our work to build a nuclear-free, carbon-free energy future, with your most generous contribution possible. Please donate at https://secure.campagne-online.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=2927&LangPref=en-CA <https://secure.campagne-online.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=2927&LangPref=en-CA> 

 

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